Perth is one of the most isolated big cities on earth, and that is exactly why a campervan trip from it feels so open. The nearest city of comparable size is thousands of kilometres east, which means the roads leaving town lead to vineyards, empty beaches, national parks and, eventually, the deserts and reefs of the north. Western Australia is also warm, dry and sunny for most of the year, which makes it a natural choice for a summer escape from a Northern Hemisphere winter.

We live in Rovaniemi, so for us this is a planning exercise, not a travel diary. We have read the live listings, the route descriptions and the price study on the CampervanPlanet Perth page, and here is the trip we would take.

Why Perth is a good campervan starting point

Perth has an international airport with flights from Asia and Europe via hubs, a calm river city centre, beaches within half an hour and a surprisingly large range of rental companies. The page says eight companies have live prices from Perth, and the accompanying price study, which looked at 542 live prices from nine companies, found that a day from Perth typically costs about A$216, against A$197 from Sydney. That is a useful reminder that Western Australia can cost a little more than the east coast.

The reason to pay it is distance and quiet. In the south-west, you can be in wine country in under three hours. Head north, and the roads open into the Coral Coast, where Ningaloo Reef is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks from the shore. If you are curious about the far north of the state, our Perth to Broome road trip goes into detail, and our campervan rental guide explains the basics of how rentals work.

Three routes from Perth

The Perth page maps three itineraries, from short to epic.

Perth to Margaret River and wine country

The easiest and most popular trip. The drive south is about three hours to Margaret River, with detours through Bunbury and the Busselton jetty, one of the longest wooden jetties in the world. Margaret River combines wineries, craft breweries, limestone caves, surf breaks and tall forests of karri trees. Allow three to five days, longer if you love food and wine.

Perth to the Pinnacles and the Turquoise Coast

A route north along the coast to Nambung National Park, where thousands of limestone spires rise from yellow sand. The Pinnacles are best at sunrise or sunset, when the light is soft and the crowds thinner. Lancelin, with its white sand dunes, is a good stop on the way. This works as a two-to-three day loop.

Perth to the Coral Coast and Ningaloo Reef

The long one, over 1,200 km each way. It leads to Shark Bay, Monkey Mia and Exmouth, with Ningaloo Reef at the end. You need at least ten days for the round trip, plus more for the best swimming. Distances between services are large, and the heat in summer can be fierce, so plan carefully. Many travellers do this trip as a one-way hire. For vehicles that can go further off the sealed road, see our guide to 4WD camper hire in Perth.

Prices and seasons

The numbers above are for the cheapest vehicle on a seven-night rental, and come from the CampervanPlanet booking engine in October 2026. The order surprises some people: A$81 a day for a June 2027 pick-up is lower than for the November or March dates. That is the shape of the Western Australian market. Winter, from June to August, is cooler and wetter in the south-west, but also much quieter and cheaper. Summer, from December to February, is hot, dry and busy.

Typical rates on the page are around A$210 a day in autumn and A$217 in spring for a standard hire, and the cheapest vehicles start from about A$93 a day. The price study also notes that, for two people and before excess cover and extras, the cheapest typical rental it found from Perth was at around A$141 a day. The real total is always higher once you add insurance, one-way fees and extras.

To see the exact price for your dates, search on the Perth page, and use code HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY20 for €20 off at checkout.

Camping and freedom camping in Western Australia

Caravan parks and holiday parks are the easy option in Western Australia, with powered sites, showers and kitchens. They are common along the coast and in the wine region, and in school holidays and over Christmas they need booking in advance.

Freedom camping is possible in some places, but councils set their own rules and many have banned it in popular towns. Signs matter, and fines are real. Self-contained vehicles are often treated differently from non-self-contained ones, so check what your campervan is certified for. We recommend using the local council websites, or the CampervanPlanet page for Western Australia, to check the current rules before you drive.

A few practical notes for the outback and the long coast:

• Fuel: fill up whenever you can once you are north of Geraldton, since stations may be hundreds of kilometres apart.
• Water: carry more than you think you will need, and check the status of roadhouses.
• Wildlife: kangaroos are most active at dawn and dusk, and the sensible advice is to avoid driving then.
• Heat: in summer, the north can exceed 40 °C, so plan driving for early morning.

Driving in Western Australia

Australia drives on the left. Western Australian roads are long, straight and often empty, which makes driving easy and tiring in equal measure. Take breaks, share the driving, and don’t underestimate the distances. Speed limits on highways are generally 100 to 110 km/h, with lower limits in towns and for towing or large vehicles. Road trains, which are very long trucks, are common in the north, and overtaking them takes time and space.

If you are used to driving on the right, take it slowly for the first day. The airport pick-up gives you a quiet first stretch, and the first night in a holiday park near the coast is a good way to settle in.

When to go

Spring (September to November) is wildflower season, with comfortable weather and good prices. Summer is the high season for beaches, but can be hot. Autumn (March to May) is a very good compromise, with stable weather and falling prices. Winter is the whale-watching season in the south-west and the best time to visit the north, where the dry season is warm and sunny. That is why the cheapest prices in the south-west happen when the north is at its best.

Frequently asked questions